The launch of Edo Cloud by the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo has breathed new life into the state’s digital governance journey, while also bringing to light the deep structural flaws in the former fraudulent e-governance platform inherited from the previous government. That administration made efforts to digitise public service processes, but with a system was weighed down by legal, technical and operational weaknesses that eventually made a full overhaul unavoidable.
With Edo Cloud — a fully state-owned, home-grown digital platform — Edo State has reclaimed control of its digital infrastructure and repositioned itself as a leading example of sustainable e-governance in Nigeria.
One of the biggest weaknesses of the failed e-governance platform was the absence of full state ownership. While it supported paperless governance and digital workflows, Edo State Government did not own the intellectual property behind the system. In practical terms, the state was running its daily operations on a platform it did not fully control — a risky position for any serious government.
Closely connected to this was restricted backend access. Government officials could not independently manage, modify or fully control the platform without relying on external consultants. This created a dangerous dependency that weakened institutional autonomy and exposed government operations to avoidable risks.
Another major concern was limited data sovereignty. Without full ownership, the state could not guarantee complete control over its data. In today’s digital world, where data security and privacy are central to governance, this was a significant vulnerability.
Sustainability was also a problem. With no internal control or ownership, the long-term future of the platform depended heavily on external parties. Any breakdown in that relationship could disrupt government operations, slow service delivery and reverse years of digital progress.
The system also lacked flexibility. It was not modular enough to support easy upgrades, expansion or integration of new services without heavy technical intervention. This slowed innovation and made it harder for the platform to evolve alongside the growing needs of the civil and public service.
On top of all this, technical dependency became a burden. Routine maintenance, updates and troubleshooting required outside support, increasing operational costs and limiting opportunities for in-house technical capacity development.
These defects may not have been obvious to the public, but they posed serious long-term risks to governance stability, service continuity and digital independence — risks the Okpebholo administration chose not to ignore.
Upon assuming office, Governor Monday Okpebholo ordered a thorough review of the state’s digital governance framework. According to the Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa, the Governor found it unacceptable for Edo State to “breathe through the nostrils of another” — a clear reference to the state’s digital dependency.
Instead of patching a system that was fundamentally flawed, the administration chose a bolder and more sustainable path: building a fully state-owned, home-grown platform that would permanently resolve issues of ownership, control, security and sustainability.
That decision marked a turning point in Edo’s digital governance journey. The outcome of that bold choice is Edo Cloud — a state-owned cloud platform designed, built, managed and maintained entirely within Edo State’s technology ecosystem.
As part of its rollout, over 70 E-Governance Champions were trained at the John Odigie-Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA) in Benin City on the platform’s interface, functionality and deployment strategy. The training brought together civil servants from various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), alongside technical experts and key stakeholders.
Declaring the workshop open, Dr. Okungbowa described Edo Cloud as a major leap forward in the state’s digital transformation, noting that it is more robust, secure and user-friendly than the former system.
Unlike the old platform, Edo Cloud guarantees full data sovereignty, ensuring that Edo State alone owns, controls and manages its digital infrastructure and data assets.
It also provides unrestricted backend access, empowering government technical teams to independently manage, modify, upgrade and maintain the system without external interference.
Another key strength of Edo Cloud is sustainability. Because it is fully state-owned, the platform eliminates long-term dependence on third parties, reduces operational costs and ensures continuity of service regardless of political transitions.
Technically, Edo Cloud features a modular architecture that supports continuous upgrades, easy integration of new services and seamless expansion across MDAs. This ensures the platform grows with the needs of the civil and public service.
Speaking on the technical design, Dr. Benjamin Ben, who led the development team, explained that Edo Cloud offers improved data control, a unified user experience, enhanced scalability and automated workflows.
He said the platform was deliberately designed to be simple and intuitive, making it easier for civil servants across MDAs to adopt and use.
Unlike the former system, which often required external technical support, Edo Cloud enables independent usage and internal support. E-Gov Champions are now equipped to train and assist their colleagues, reducing the need for constant outside intervention.
“With what we have done, there will be no need for micro-managing. The E-Gov Champions will provide support for their community. This aligns with His Excellency’s directive that civil and public servants should be able to do their jobs independently,” Dr. Ben said.
The Head of IT Infrastructure and System Engineering at the Edo State Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), Engr. Courage Adaghe, stressed that Edo Cloud is fully state-owned, guaranteeing security, sustainability and flexibility.
He explained that the platform was built, managed and maintained entirely within Edo State’s technology ecosystem, ensuring local capacity building and institutional knowledge retention.
“The platform will serve as a one-stop digital solution for public service operations. It was fully built, managed and maintained within Edo State’s technology ecosystem,” he said.
This local ownership model stands in sharp contrast to the former platform, where core control remained outside the state.
Beyond its technical advantages, Edo Cloud is designed to strengthen transparency, accountability, efficiency and citizen participation. By digitising workflows, reducing paperwork and automating processes, the platform is expected to significantly improve service delivery across MDAs.
Dr. Okungbowa noted that the adoption of Edo Cloud will enhance transparency and accountability, improve governance processes, reduce bureaucracy and position Edo State once again at the forefront of digital public service administration in Nigeria.
He also urged E-Gov Champions to act as ambassadors of the new system, noting that resistance to change often comes from poor communication and lack of understanding.
One of the participants, Mr. Ogbewe Osaro Anthony, E-Gov Champion from the Edo State Social Investment Programme Office, commended Governor Okpebholo for approving a fully state-owned platform.
He described Edo Cloud as richer in content, more flexible and better suited to public service operations than the previous system, adding that its features would significantly enhance collaboration and productivity across MDAs.
This feedback reflects growing confidence within the civil service that Edo Cloud is not just a replacement system, but a transformational tool.
The former e-governance platform denied Edo state ownership, restricted access, limited sustainability, poor scalability and heavy external dependency — made it unsuitable for long-term governance stability.
Now Governor Okpebholo’s Edo Cloud has tackled these weaknesses directly by delivering a platform that is fully state-owned, secure, sustainable, scalable, user-friendly and locally managed.
With the Edo Cloud now operational, Edo State has not only reclaimed control of its digital future but has also set a new standard for sub-national digital governance in Nigeria.
In an era where data sovereignty, institutional autonomy and service efficiency define governance success, Governor Okpebholo’s bold investment in a home-grown cloud platform stands out as a visionary and future-proof decision.
Edo State is no longer borrowing digital breath — it now owns its digital lungs.
